The Alabama in the Civil War Message Board - Archive

Battle of Watkins' Farm

“We omitted to state yesterday, in our account of the heavy skirmishing on this portion of the lines, on Saturday, that Gracie’s old brigade, stationed near Hatcher’s Run, and now commanded by Gen. Y. M. Moody, recently promoted, were hotly engaged for several hours, and acted a most gallant part. Major Stallworth, by a most dexterous movement, captured 150 prisoners, and many of the enemy were killed and wounded.

“We regret to learn that Colonel D. S. Troy was wounded and fell into the hands of the enemy.--Capt. Daniels was killed, and Captains Comiggs and Manley were captured uninjured. Lieutenant Joseph Smith was killed.”
Richmond "Whig," Weds., March 29, 1865

“The Recent Fight at Hatcher’s Run.

“A correspondent of the Petersburg Express communicates to that journal the following sketch of the engagement at Hatcher’s Run, on Saturday last:

“About an hour before daylight, Gracie’s old (Ala.) brigade, now commanded by Brig. Gen. Moody, was deployed in line of battle, our right resting on Hatcher’s Run.

“About 8 o’clock the enemy advanced through an open field and drove in a line of skirmishers in our front from Cook’s brigade. On came the azure cloud of Yankees until within good range [of] our rifles, when a volley or two strewed the field with their killed and wounded, and scattered the balance in every possible direction to places of refuge beyond the reach of Minie balls, numbers of them filling the pits from which they had just driven our skirmishers.

“The enemy immediately advanced a heavy line of battle to support their troops now occupying our picket trenches, with the design of occupying this new line permanently. This placed Gen. Moody under the necessity of recapturing the lost picket line. For this purpose he sent out the 23d Alabama Battalion and two companies (A and F) of the 41st Alabama regiment, under Major Stalworth, who, in a very few moments, carried the entire line, capturing one hundred and sixty-one prisoners.--Major Stalworth, and the officers and men under him, are entitled to great credit for the gallant manner in which they performed this feat.

“In the meantime, Captain Morehead, company C, 41st Alabama regiment, had been sent out to reinforce another part of the picket line, but was completely surrounded, and he and his entire company captured by overwhelming numbers. Thus the fighting was carried on by Moody’s Brigade, repulsing charge after charge of the enemy, until late in the afternoon, when Gen. Cook, with his Brigade, came to our support; and it was then determined to charge and capture the enemy’s position in our front. For this purpose our Brigade was deployed, presenting a front of over half a mile. The charge was made and the enemy’s line captured, and they driven from it, but, owing to the great length of the line and the formidable force still in our front, it was deemed unadvisable to attempt to hold the entire line, and we abandoned about half the works we had captured, still holding the remainder.

“In all this day’s hard fighting, our men and officers behaved most admirably. General Moody, by his coolness and gallantry, knows himself to be a worthy successor of the noble Gracie. His staff officers, Captains Jones and Sengstak, as they always are, were most conspicuous for their coolness and courage. The 41st Alabama regiment, Colonel Stansel; 43d Alabama, Major Mims; 59th Alabama, Lieut. Col. Irvy [?], and the 23d Alabama battalion, Major Stalworth, were engaged in this day’s fighting, and all did their duty most nobly.

“The 60th Alabama regiment, Colonel Sanford, was on picket on the west side of the creek, and was engaged with the enemy during the day.

“Amongst the noble spirits who fell in this engagement, was Lieut. Col. Troy, of the 60th Ala. He was mortally wounded and left in the hands of the enemy. A brilliant lawyer, an accomplished gentleman, and excellent citizen, and a noble and gallant soldier, his untimely death is a loss to the country and to the army.”
Richmond "Whig," Thurs., March 30, 1865